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This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: • This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. • A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. • This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. • The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. • When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. This is True Grace of God: The Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in 1 Peter by Wai Lan Joyce Sun PhD – The University of Edinburgh – 2012 This thesis, containing 98,612 words, has been composed by myself and is the work of my own. The work in this thesis has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. __________________________ Wai Lan Joyce Sun PhD – The University of Edinburgh – 2012 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... i Abbreviations ............................................................................................................... ii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... iii 1 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Review of Scholarship ................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Form-Critical Approach ....................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Social-Scientific Approach .................................................................. 2 1.2 Approach of this Study ................................................................................ 5 1.3 Plan of this Study ......................................................................................... 9 1.4 Working Hypothesis .................................................................................. 11 2 Chapter 2: Theological Vision of 1 Peter ........................................................... 15 2.1 The Christ-Messiah in 1 Peter .................................................................... 19 2.1.1 The Suffering Christ-Messiah ............................................................ 19 2.1.2 The Exalted Christ-Messiah ............................................................... 28 Section Summary ............................................................................................... 32 2.2 The Christian Elect Exiles of Diaspora in 1 Peter ..................................... 33 2.2.1 The Christian Elect ............................................................................. 37 2.2.2 The Christian Exiles ........................................................................... 45 2.2.3 The Christian Elect Exiles of Diaspora .............................................. 51 Section Summary ............................................................................................... 53 2.3 Christ-Christians Unity in 1 Peter .............................................................. 54 2.3.1 The Christ-Christian Spiritual House ................................................. 55 2.3.2 The Christian Elect Diaspora Determined by Christ ......................... 58 Section Summary ............................................................................................... 61 2.4 Chapter Conclusion .................................................................................... 62 3 Chapter 3: Social Behavioural Instructions in 1 Peter ....................................... 64 3.1 The Governing Principle (2:11–12) ........................................................... 74 3.2 Christian Engagement in Civil Life (2:13–17)........................................... 78 Section Summary ............................................................................................... 84 3.3 Christian Engagement in Household Life (2:18–3:7) ................................ 84 3.3.1 Exhortations to Slaves (2:18–25) ....................................................... 85 3.3.2 Exhortations to Wives (3:1–6) ........................................................... 90 3.3.3 Exhortations to Husbands (3:7) .......................................................... 95 Section Summary ............................................................................................... 96 3.4 Christian Engagement in Daily Social Life (3:9–4:6)................................ 96 3.4.1 Do Not Return Evil for Evil (3:9–12) ................................................ 97 3.4.2 Suffer for the Sake of Righteousness (3:13–22) ................................ 99 3.4.3 Do Not Accomplish the Will of the Gentiles (4:1–6) ...................... 105 Section Summary ............................................................................................. 111 3.5 Christian Engagement in Suffering for the Name of Christ (4:12–4:19) . 112 Section Summary ............................................................................................. 116 3.6 Chapter Conclusion .................................................................................. 117 4 Chapter 4: The Jewish Elect Exiles of Diaspora .............................................. 120 4.1 Social Engagement of The Jewish Elect Exiles of Diaspora ................... 124 4.1.1 Jewish Diaspora Engagement in Civil Life ...................................... 126 4.1.2 Jewish Engagement in Household Life ............................................ 138 4.1.3 Jewish Engagement in Daily Social Life ......................................... 143 Section Summary: Jewish Resonances in 1 Peter ............................................ 153 4.2 Diaspora Consciousness of the Jewish Exilic People of God .................. 156 4.2.1 Diaspora’s Longing for Return ........................................................ 158 4.2.2 Diaspora’s Belonging to the Native Country ................................... 163 Section Summary: Jewish Resonances in 1 Peter ............................................ 170 4.3 Chapter Conclusion .................................................................................. 172 5 Chapter 5: Comparison Text I: Revelation ...................................................... 174 5.1 Social Behavioural Instructions in Revelation ......................................... 178 5.1.1 Purpose of the Revelation Social Behavioural Instructions ............. 179 5.1.2 Social Behavioural Instructions of Revelation ................................. 190 Section Summary: Features of Petrine Social Behavioural Instructions ......... 195 5.2 Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in Revelation . 198 5.2.1 Messiah-Christ in Revelation ........................................................... 198 5.2.2 Christian Messianic Army in Revelation ......................................... 207 Section Summary: Features of the Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in 1 Peter ..................................................................................... 214 5.3 Chapter Conclusion .................................................................................. 216 6 Chapter 6: Comparison Text II: The Epistle to Diognetus ............................... 218 6.1 Christian Social Engagement Portrayed in the Epistle to Diognetus ....... 221 6.1.1 Christian Engagement in Civil Life ................................................. 227 6.1.2 Christian Engagement in Household Life ........................................ 228 6.1.3 Christian Engagement in Daily Social Life ..................................... 231 Section Summary: Petrine Resonances in the Epistle to Diognetus ................ 233 6.2 Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in the Epistle to Diognetus ............................................................................................................. 235 6.2.1 All-loving God/Christ in the Epistle to Diognetus ........................... 236 6.2.2 Christian Resident Aliens in the Epistle to Diognetus ..................... 241 Section Summary: Features of the Shaping of Social Behavioural Instructions by Theology in 1 Peter ..................................................................................... 248 6.3 Chapter Conclusion .................................................................................. 249 7 Chapter 7: Conclusion ...................................................................................... 253 Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 258 Acknowledgements With this thesis coming to its completion, I cannot help feeling deeply thankful to all my loved ones for their concern, support and assistance during my stay at Edinburgh. My special thanks go to my supervior Professor Larry W. Hurtado whose breadth of knowledge, guidance and comments have facilitated the production of this work, which is of far better quality
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